Scoutie Girl

to swear or not to swear

sad but true: my nickname in college was 'trucker mouth.' not much has changed. i'm a big fan of swear words, but i'm an even bigger fan of (1) outrageously well-done designs like these and (2) an artist bold enough to call his biz 'swear jar design.' ALL of his work is un-freaking-believable! a silversmither with an array of influences from architecture to nature, he works with german silver (aka nickel) and resin enamel to create stunning combinations with balanced, delicate details. excellent translation of ideas! collection includes buckels, pendants, cuffs and earrings.

$125 from swear jar design

the nature of silver

using real twigs, acorns, maple seeds and bark as the models from which to handcarve wax molds, these gorgeous pieces of jewelry take the "inspired by nature" philosophy quite literally. the twin sister silversmithers who are the beauties and brains behind these creations make each one from sterling silver using a wax-casting method and some clever ideas of their own. they also feature pretty seaglass & silver pieces as well as a line of funky/edgy design motifs. please inquire for prices and availability of individual pieces. Designers: Kerry Alice and Heather Collins

$35-200 from twigs and heather

photomodish

put a daisy in front of me, and you'll always have my undivided attention! (skittles work, too.) these hip mini-photos were spied on modishoppe recently...thank you to jena for emailing about her secret "good-bye summer" sale, which gave me the impetus to get them up here.

the art. nature's simplistic beauty really comes through on these unique images. photographed with a special Holga camera, the subject matter takes on a very cool, ethereal quality. each image is printed with archival inks with a waterproof and fade resistant coating and then mounted on recycled barnwood. 3" x 3" x 1-1/2". Great as a stack or a group hanging...sold separately. Photographer: Rebecca Tolk

the sale. say ta-ta to summer and take 15% off these photo blocks and everything else. today through Thursday, 8/30 at modishoppe. use code "goodbyesum07" at checkout to receive the discount! tons of other handmade indie goodies!!

$20 from modishoppe

biblio cards

i love artists who can translate their work into different media...takes great vision and organization. i posted about the beautiful glass jewelry by this artist a few months back. she's been busy, busy, busy building her company one piece at a time, and she's recently made the jump to stationery. her designs are delicately understated and very unique - a signature look to be sure. her cards and journals are inspired by vintage card-catalog-cards - a neat and tidy way to jot a note! don't forget to check our her glass jewelry when you visit. Designer: Laurel Denise

$3.50-16.00 from laurel denise

make a spectacle of yourself

if you're wild about your eyewear, you have to check this out. these specs are individually designed and handcarved out of a block of wood to the exact proportions of your face - ensuring a completely original look and truly perfect fit. extremely durable exotic hardwoods are used; you can also have a pair created from an old vinyl record if you like - your imagination is the only limit on the final design! the more i read about the process and the inspirations, the more i was floored by this stunning use of materials! keep up the good work! Designer: Scott Urban

from urban spectacles of wood

a little loungewear

depends how little you want to go b/c this indie sleepwear designer has some teeny-tinies in addition to the pieces pictured here - all are very tasteful. designed to be beautiful and feminine, pieces are cut with a very flattering line and feature natural fibers like cotton, silk and wool (some lycra in there for shape). straps are adjustable; most camisoles are open-back (very cute). thoughtful details and a lot of variety! site also features lounge pants, camis, chemises, robes, and panties. Designer: Amanda Buchanan

$28-60 from sandmaiden

indulge yourself

all-natural skincare products that are fresh and light. handmade in small batches, each product's ingredients are carefully selected for a final finish that's soothing and gentle. lotions, balms, soaps, butters and scrubs. love that she created a line of "mineral" cosmetics like powder foundation and bronzer...free of binders that tend to cause skin irritation. Designer: Crystal Astolfo

$8-18 from domaly

don't skirt the basics

summer is almost over on the east coast, but this website is still very worthy of a post...just think of it as being super-proactive for next Spring. they are "all skirts, all the time" with a-lines, full-circles, knee-length...you name it. pretty, pretty lines - which make for an extremely flattering style on most body-types. made from 100%, machine-washable cotton in solids, florals, geometrics. winter styles are available. zippers and elastic waistbands are options as well. all designed and produced in the U.S., like all of the items featured on SG. Designer: Craig Cochrane

$46 from skirt spot

the age of a tree

i've always been wild about kandinsky's circles, and i'm sure that's why these paintings yanked me into their orbs. so mesmerizing, so perfect, so....circular. from the artist's "tree rings" series, each painting is 6" x 6" and done in acrylics on MDF. they are ready to hang. the series is limited to 500 pieces, and at under $10, they won't last long. i would buy a bunch of them, and hang them as big, modular piece. the possibilites are endless! Artist: Tracy Melton

$9.99 from focuslineart at etsy

'scapes for an escape

urban elements balanced with earthy hues and shapes create a very pleasant freestyle blend. bold use of color, layering and texture add dimension and movement. i can see these paintings displayed in so many different settings - with each style of decor and lighting lending a unique energy to the paintings. some paintings are 6" x 6" original miniatures on 3/4" bamboo; others are 16" x 16" signed, limited edition giclee prints. 1-2 week turnaround time. Artist: Flora S. Bowley

$90-125 from petaline

shameless personal plug #5

i'm so busy looking for, corresponding with and promoting other indie designers on Scoutie Girl that i often forget how wonderful it feels to get a little free PR when you can. Daisy Janie is my indie business, and i was thrilled to be featured as the "designer of the day" recently on Handbag Designer 101. if you want the low-down, check it out. lots of good tidbits and one nightmare story!

HB101 is a relatively new site but a very comprehensive resource for designers and shoppers alike; it's run by Emily Blumenthal of Yasmena...she does a great job with her own collections and promoting others as well!

protozoan marvels

if you read SG on a regular basis, you know i'm a sucker for a pendant (among other things). these lampworked glass gems are right up there with the rest. so much mojo coming from them...like they're going to predict my future (hope it's not foreboding) or maybe a genie will appear from behind the fog curtain. either way, they're certainly charmed with incredible dimension and movement that comes from labor-intensive, hands-on manipulation with hot glass. 1" in diameter with either gold or sterling silver accents. this artist is as complex as her work, which makes them all the more impressive. lots of glass jewelry styles, including rings, bracelets and hairpins. Designer: Jennifer Syfu

$75-85 from starving artist bazaar

what's your cuff style?

look at all those glorious colors! rec'd an email about a new etsy shop from one of my favorite metalsmithers, tay from twirl. i posted about one of her BE rings before, see here. she's incredibly talented so i was anxious to see what her bread+butter etsy shop would hold in store (literally!). i was pleasantly surprised to find these posh wrist cuffs in 2 divergent styles: frou-frou and rebel-prepster. love them both for their originality in materials and design. both are made from luxurious ultra-suede, making them super-comfy. flowers are individually cut free-hand - without a pattern - and then assembled with swarovski crystal centers. the hot-pink striped cuffs are also made from scratch and have a loop & button closure on the back for extra flare...these are inspired by funky tennis sweatbands from the bjorn borg-john mcenroe era (2 more of my faves). Designer: Tay McIntyre

$15-32 from bread+butter at etsy